Joel Ajayi
Jude Bellingham’s early career is a testament to his exceptional talent and rapid rise in professional football. Born on June 29, 2003, in Stourbridge, England, he began his football journey at a young age, joining Birmingham City’s youth academy in 2010.
Bellingham’s breakthrough came in 2019 when, at just 16 years old, he made his senior debut for Birmingham City, becoming their youngest-ever first-team player.
Jude Bellingham’s career at Birmingham City marked the inception of a footballing prodigy who quickly made headlines for his exceptional talent.
The defining moment came in 2019 when, at just 16 years old, he made his senior debut for Birmingham City, becoming their youngest-ever first-team player. Bellingham’s debut season in professional football, during the 2019/2020 campaign, was nothing short of sensational. Playing predominantly as a central midfielder, he showcased remarkable composure, technical ability, and a tireless work ethic in England’s second tier.
He scored four goals for Birmingham City and provided three assists in 44 appearances in all competitions, making him a standout player in a struggling championship side.
His performances at Birmingham City attracted the attention of top European clubs, and in the summer of 2020, Bellingham made a high-profile move to Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, further solidifying his reputation as one of the brightest young talents in world football.
Upon his arrival, Bellingham immediately made an impact. He was handed the iconic number 22 shirt.
In his debut Bundesliga season, Bellingham featured prominently in Dortmund’s midfield. He showcased his versatility, often playing as a central midfielder but also slotting into more defensive or advanced roles as needed. His ability to read the game, distribute the ball, and break up opposition attacks quickly became evident.
Jude Bellingham has become the world’s third-most-expensive teenager by completing a 103m euro move to Real Madrid.
In June 2023, Bellingham signed for Real Madrid on a six-year contract for a fee that made him the most expensive English player in history €103m, with add-ons taking the potential fee to over €133m.
He chose to take the number 5 shirt, which he admitted was in homage of Real Madrid and France legend Zinedine Zidane.
Bellingham is still at the beginning of what has already been a hugely successful career.
Having come through Birmingham City’s academy, the midfielder has since gone on to represent his country and two of Europe’s biggest clubs, including arguably the biggest club in world football, in Real Madrid.
As a result, Bellingham already has a handful of personal honors to his name but is expected to collect many, many more as his career progresses
